Q: My wife's gall bladder shrank and the doctor has advised surgery. Please give some details about the operation.

A:The gall bladder is an organ that normally stores bile produced in the liver and periodically releases it into the small intestine to help in digestion of fats. A shrunken gall bladder is usually the result of chronic changes due to inflammation. At this stage it is no longer functional and may produce gall stones. Treatment consists in removing the gall bladder. This can either be done by an open operation or by laparoscopy - wherein the same thing is done using telescopes and instruments passed through small holes in the abdominal wall rather than opening the abdomen by a long incision. The operation is quite safe and the results are extremely satisfying when done in good centres.